After hearing High Priest Nova’s words, Winay slowly walked forward and stood before the Designer’s Stone Wall.

  The atmosphere inside the Priest Hall felt different from the first hall. It was heavier. Denser. Almost sacred to the point of suffocation.

  He glanced around.

  All the priests — including High Priest Nova — were staring at him without blinking.

  Why are these old geezers looking at me like that? he thought.

  Their eyes were filled with something strange. Not suspicion. Not doubt.

  Excitement.

  Expectation.

  It was as if they were waiting for someone long lost to return after decades. Their bodies remained completely still, but their eyes betrayed their anticipation.

  Winay slowly shifted his gaze toward the Stone Wall.

  Immediately, he realized the difference.

  This was not the same wall from the first hall.

  The inscriptions carved into this stone were deeper — layered over each other in complex geometric patterns. The lines were not merely engraved; they seemed embedded with faint pulses of energy.

  The stone itself felt alive.

  Even when he activated his Void Eye slightly, he could not see through the entire structure. His vision blurred at certain points as if something was deliberately blocking him.

  What kind of profound secrets are hidden here?

  And why is it called the Designer’s Stone Wall? Does “Designer” refer to the Goddess? Or someone else entirely?

  Ever since entering White Flower City, his mind had been filled with doubts.

  Nova’s calm voice broke through his thoughts.

  “Child, do not try to comprehend everything in a single glance.”

  Winay looked at him.

  “What you see cannot always be understood immediately. To understand something, you must experience it first. Continue moving forward. The answers you seek will come with time.”

  He paused slightly, then added in a softer tone:

  “And do not make us old fellows wait any longer.”

  Winay inhaled slowly.

  He understood the meaning behind those words.

  There was no benefit in standing still and forming assumptions based on incomplete knowledge.

  With a clear mind, he stepped closer.

  Then, without hesitation, he placed his hand on the Designer’s Stone Wall.

  Inside the temple, there was an ancient saying known only to high-ranking priests:

  If someone were to receive a blessing beyond Herald level from the Designer’s Stone Wall…

  There existed a possibility — however small — that the inscribed words of the Designer himself would manifest.

  For centuries, no such event had been confirmed.

  But the records remained.

  And that was enough.

  That was why every priest in the hall stood frozen in anticipation.

  The moment Winay’s palm touched the stone—

  A brilliant flash erupted before his eyes.

  The light was not painful.

  But it was overwhelming.

  Nova’s expression changed immediately.

  “What an immense surge of energy…” he muttered. “It has just begun, yet it already exceeds Herald level.”

  Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  But something was wrong.

  No.

  Not wrong.

  Different.

  In ordinary blessings, energy descended from above like a beam of divine radiance.

  This time—

  The energy flowed directly from the stone.

  And instead of falling upon his head, it entered through his eyes.

  The inscriptions on the wall began glowing intensely.

  The entire Priest Hall vibrated faintly.

  Outside observers felt their hearts tremble.

  Energy… it’s entering through my eyes.

  Winay felt it clearly.

  A warm sensation spread from his eyes into his brain, then downward into his entire body.

  It was not burning heat.

  It was cleansing warmth.

  Heavy. Dense. Pure.

  The energy grew thicker with every passing second.

  This… feels different from what Professor Rainor described.

  His core vibrated.

  His spirit energy and soul energy began changing.

  Becoming clearer.

  Sharper.

  More refined.

  Mixed within that warmth were fragments of inscriptions.

  Symbols.

  Concepts.

  Knowledge.

  They were not merely information — they were insights.

  His mind expanded rapidly.

  My perception is increasing…

  He could sense connections between things he had never noticed before.

  Patterns.

  Structures.

  Subtle truths.

  Then—

  The energy became heavier.

  Almost unbearable.

  But not harmful.

  It was as if something was engraving itself into his existence.

  Priest Alson staggered backward.

  “What is this phenomenon…? Is this truly a blessing?”

  Priest Elson whispered:

  “I have never seen light behave this way…”

  Nova’s breathing slowed.

  His eyes widened slightly — the first crack in his composed demeanor.

  “This surpasses Saint level…”

  The Goddess statue behind them began emitting faint radiance.

  The energy was no longer confined to the Stone Wall.

  It felt as though something else had responded.

  Nova’s voice dropped to a whisper.

  “In the ancient records… there was mention of a blessing beyond Saint level…”

  “Apostle Level.”

  The hall fell silent.

  Priest Alson swallowed.

  “Apostle…? That was considered a myth.”

  Nova did not look away from Winay.

  “The records state that when such a blessing manifests, it does not flow only through the Stone Wall…”

  “…but directly from the Divine Mother herself.”

  Priest Elson’s voice trembled.

  “Does that mean… the one receiving it becomes her proxy?”

  Nova answered without hesitation.

  “Yes.”

  “Silence,” Nova ordered softly. “Do not disturb this sacred moment.”

  The energy intensified one final time.

  My core… it’s being purified completely.

  His spirit energy became smoother.

  His soul energy felt denser yet calmer.

  Then something unexpected occurred.

  He sensed restrictions forming around certain fragments of knowledge.

  Why… can’t I fully access everything?

  It was as if some insights had been sealed.

  Locked away.

  Is this intentional?

  The warmth slowly faded.

  The light dimmed.

  The energy stabilized.

  Is the blessing ending?

  Nova exhaled slowly.

  “If the records are accurate… this is at least Saint level.”

  He paused.

  “Or beyond.”

  He continued quietly:

  “There was once mention of someone exceeding Saint level. The phenomenon described then resembles what we are witnessing today.”

  “It was called the Apostle Level Blessing.”

  The other priests stared in disbelief.

  “Apostle level… truly exists?”

  Nova nodded.

  “Yes.”

  The light gradually faded.

  The warmth inside Winay’s body stabilized.

  His core felt purer. Cleaner. Sharper than before.

  He slowly opened his eyes.

  And froze.

  All the priests — including High Priest Nova — were kneeling on one leg.

  Their voices echoed together:

  “We welcome the Apostle of the Goddess of Creation… the Divine Mother’s proxy.”

  Winay blinked.

  Instinctively, he turned his head to look behind him.

  No one was there.

  He could sense his surroundings clearly. There was no one else in the hall.

  Which meant—

  They were referring to him.

  These old geezers have completely lost it…

  He cleared his throat.

  “High Priest Nova,” he said calmly, “what exactly do you mean by that? And why are you all kneeling?”

  Nova raised his head slightly but remained respectful.

  “Please do not reject our reverence, Messenger of the Goddess.”

  Winay frowned.

  “Messenger? I received no such message. I only felt energy and gained knowledge.”

  He paused.

  Wait…

  Why can’t I clearly recall all the knowledge I received?

  It felt restricted.

  Sealed.

  As if some parts were intentionally locked.

  Nova asked carefully:

  “Did you not receive any revelation from the Divine Mother during the blessing?”

  “No,” Winay answered honestly. “Nothing like that.”

  The priests exchanged glances.

  Nova spoke again.

  “Then please circulate your soul energy toward your forehead. If the Divine Mark appears, we will have confirmation.”

  Winay sighed internally.

  If I don’t do this, they won’t stop.

  He began circulating his soul energy upward.

  The priests watched in silence.

  Seconds passed.

  Nothing appeared.

  No mark.

  No symbol.

  Nova’s eyes flickered with slight disappointment, but he quickly regained composure.

  He stood up.

  The others followed.

  “Forgive us,” Nova said calmly. “We allowed our excitement to mislead us.”

  Winay shook his head lightly.

  “It’s fine.”

  He hesitated for a moment before speaking again.

  “There is one thing, though.”

  Nova looked at him carefully.

  “I received some words during the blessing.”

  The hall grew quiet again.

  “What words?” Nova asked.

  Winay replied slowly,

  “This is for the Goddess Graha.”

  Priest Alson immediately looked toward Nova.

  “Those words… weren’t they recorded in the ruins connected to the Designer?”

  Nova nodded.

  “Yes. They are indeed mentioned in the ancient records.”

  He looked back at Winay.

  “It seems your access to the Goddess Records is extremely high.”

  Winay shrugged slightly.

  “I don’t know about that. But if it’s good news, then I’m satisfied.”

  Nova laughed softly.

  “That is a good way to think.”

  He turned to the others.

  “Return to your duties.”

  After that, Winay spoke with High Priest Nova for a while, listening carefully as the High Priest explained a few things about the blessing and the temple records before finally allowing him to leave.

  Ardo stepped forward and respectfully escorted Winay out of the Priest Hall.

  The matter was not spoken of further.

  But the priests would remember this day.